Case Studies

Kahla - A Sore Healed

"Kahla floods in heavy rains and the flooding Kahla enters the cultivable land, like a small kid enters the mango orchard. It retreats back to its size once the monsoon is over leaving back rich deposits of silt". Till 40 years back this rich land in Kahla village in Banda district was measured and allotted amongst villagers U/S 161 A, by the administration, but some 40 years ago few higher caste and well to do Brahmins and Araks grabbed this land, by show of muscle power. Poor villagers could do nothing except seeing in disbelief the transfer of 200 acres of rich land.

From then onwards there has been no measurement and allotment of this rich land. This was not end of the woes they were meant to face. These muscle men even collected rent for giving the aforesaid land for cultivation to poor villagers at the rate of Rs 100 per lathi (a stick used for local measurement and is equivalent to 450 ft.). They amassed almost Rs 2 lakh every year from almost bankrupt villagers. The local administration turned a blind eye to the matter, as the culprits were politically well connected.

Then some 20 years ago few brave villagers decided to protest against the continued harassment. However this small mutiny got a lethal blow when four of the protestors were brutally murdered. The message was conveyed to each and every villager clear and loud.
Then few year back two NGOs, namely Shraddha Samiti and Gram Unmesh Sansthan, started working in village Kahla for solution of this long pending problem, but to no avail. Their representatives were harassed and threatened with dire consequences. With almost no support from local administration Shraddha Samiti and Gram Unmesh Sansthan were ultimately forced to pull away from Kahla.

Then in 2004 a few villagers contacted Information Center of Parivartan Pariyojna, working for women empowerment and rural development. Parivartan Pariyojna organised a Khuli Baithak (open meeting where all villagers are invited in an attempt to solve the problems) in the village, where this problem was raised. Villagers supported the move for an early solution to the long pending matter. It was also resolved to highlight the issue at national level with help from ETV and Sahara Samay (electronic media and print media).

In the mean time Project staff of Parivartan Pariyojna received threat calls, if they made any progressive steps towards solving the aforementioned problem, but they displayed the toughest side of their character, kept calm and resolute.

A letter was addressed to local administration stating the details of problem and urging for an earliest remedy of the same. The villagers with the support of Parivartan Pariyojana demonstrated in the cause of their problem in front of the local administration. The District Magistrate came to action due to the pressure mounted by project members and villagers. And on the sight of the problem being covered by media, he issued orders to sub district magistrate to get the land measured afresh and the report was submitted to the District Magistrate. Taking quick action and holding the sanctity of law of land the District Magistrate distributed the land amongst poor village U/S 161A in January 2004.

The villagers are now cultivating the land freely without any threat from mighty people. The villagers are full of praise for the laudable work that Parivartan Pariyojana has done in their village. Appreciating this project, the villagers suggested replicating this initiative in other villages, so that others can also benefit like them by this project.

Thus due to the Initiative taken by Parivartan Pariyojana and villagers a war that had started 40 years ago came to an end with the voice coming out clear and loud – let truth prevail.

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